The Department for Transport (DfT) has revealed the 15 successful bidders for investment under the second round of the Restoring your Railway Fund.
… up to £50,000… restore passenger services closed during the 1960s Beeching cuts…
… part of the broader £500M Restoring Your Railway initiative…
… specifically judged on their ability to deliver real economic benefits and support left-behind communities…
New Civil Engineer writes:
The rail projects will be awarded up to £50,000 each to progress plans to reinstate historic stations and restore passenger services closed during the 1960s Beeching cuts.
Five of the schemes are in the South West, three are in the North West, and projects in the East and West Midlands, North East and Yorkshire & Humberside also feature.
No schemes in the South East were successful in this round of bids, including a proposal to reopen Camberwell Station in South London. However two schemes in the South East were previously awarded funding in the first round of bids in July.
Funding is part of the broader £500M Restoring Your Railway initiative which aims to accelerate existing proposals for which business cases have already been put forward and develop ideas for restoring or opening new stations. The DfT has said that the aim of the funding to level up the country and improve connectivity for communities. It revealed the 51 bidders for the second round in September.
Among the winning bids is a scheme to reinstate passenger services from Bolton to Manchester through Radcliffe with a radial Metrolink, along with proposals for two new stations in the South West.
Other successful projects include restoring Ferryhill station in Sedgefield, returning services to Consett in the North East, bringing back a station close to the medieval Beeston Castle in Cheshire and reinstating services for communities around Ashfield on the Maid Marian Line.
Restoring your Railway: round 2 successful bids
East Midlands
- Reopened lines and new passenger services, Melton Mowbray – Nottingham
- Reopened lines and new passenger services, Alfreton – Ashfield (Maid Marian Line)
West Midlands
- Reopened lines and new passenger services, Stratford Upon Avon – Honeybourne – Worcester/Oxford
North East
- Reopened lines and new passenger services, Consett-Newcastle
- New Station at Ferryhill, Ferryhill – Stockton-on-Tees
North West
- Enhanced existing passenger services, Preston – Blackpool South
- Reopened lines and new passenger services, Bolton-Radcliffe / Bolton-Bury
- New station at Beeston Castle and Tarporley, Crewe – Chester
South West
- New Station at St Anne’s Park, Bristol Temple Meads – Bath Spa
- Enhanced existing passenger services, Truro – Falmouth
- New Station at Langport and Somerton, Castle Cary – Taunton
- Reopened lines and new passenger services, Kemble – Cirencester
- Reopened lines and new passenger services, Wareham – Swanage
Yorkshire & Humberside
- Reopened lines and new passenger services, Gainsborough – Barton
- New Station at Waverley, Sheffield – Chesterfield
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said that restoring a rail line or station “has the potential to revitalise a community”.
He added: “It breathes new life into our high streets, drives investment in businesses and housing, and opens new opportunities for work and education.
“By building back with a real focus on better connections and supporting left-behind communities, we’re delivering our promise to level up this country.”
Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris added: “From restoring historic stations at Ferryhill and Langport, to reinstating passenger services on the Maid Marian Line and transforming rail connections around Bolton, Bury and Consett, our investment will provide the vital links that people depend on.”
Entries have been specifically judged on their ability to deliver real economic benefits and support left-behind communities, with investment targeted at regenerating local economies by:
- supporting new house developments
- opening up access to jobs and education
- boosting tourism
A further 28 bids will receive further guidance to help develop and refine their ideas for assessment in future funding rounds.
